In September 2021, Sarah Bickell’s Dad was admitted to hospital after a week of suffering with COVID-19. Despite having been vaccinated, three days later he was moved into intensive care (ICU) at University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP).

During recent months, the garden behind the Post Graduate Medical Centre at University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) has undergone a remarkable makeover.

With donations received during the pandemic, Plymouth Hospitals Charity has funded the building of this new, serene garden. The main drive behind this special space is for colleagues to be able to reflect, refresh and destress - in turn, ensuring they can deliver the best patient care possible.

Thanks to a generous grant from NHS Charities Together, University Hospitals Plymouth’s (UHP) Wellbeing for All initiative is being rolled out across the Trust. Donations from across the country made to the national Emergency COVID Appeal in 2020 have made possible the distribution of money to all the NHS Charities in the UK. Plymouth Hospitals Charity was successful in its application for £198k to fund this programme.

The garden behind the Post Graduate Medical Centre at University Hospitals Plymouth is undergoing an impressive makeover. Plymouth Hospitals Charity has, with donations received during the pandemic, funded the building of this new garden. The Breathing Space Garden at PGMC is situated behind the Derriford Centre for Health and Wellbeing for our colleagues to be able to meet outdoors in an area near the nature reserve where they can be social and share food together, have some fun, good conversation and have some time out when work is hard.

On the anniversary of his second stem-cell transplant, 66-year-old Gary Bray from Bridestowe, Dartmoor, is set to undertake a mammoth challenge in the form of an indoor triple triathlon. He will be swimming 1500 metres, followed by a cycle of 40 kilometres and rowing a further 10 kilometres. As if that isn’t quite enough, he will repeat that for the next two days, totalling three triathlons in as many days- covering a distance equivalent to that of a journey from Plymouth to Weston-Super-Mare. This will all be whilst raising money for three charities that are close to his heart; Plymouth Hospitals Charity, Anthony Nolan Charity and the Hearts Together Charity. Without the help of these three, he believes he wouldn’t be here to share his story.     

Molly is a six year old from Plymouth with an extraordinary story. Molly, or ‘Mo’ to her family is very a happy, almost seven year old who has been through more in six short years than most people go through in a lifetime. Now her Dad, Giles, is taking on England’s longest zip-wire over the Eden Project to raise money for Derriford Children’s Wards to say thank you for the care they provided.

NHS Charities Together has granted Plymouth Hospitals Charity funding to support a new project, ‘UHP Wellbeing for All’. The initiative was designed by a multidisciplinary team including Occupational Health, Psychologists, HR and OD colleagues and the Director of People.

The Logistics team have embarked on a 6,389 mile virtual cycle, covering the distance from Plymouth to Wuhan, China.

Logistics Manager, John Fyffe contracted COVID back in March 2020 and was admitted to Derriford Hospital for treatment. John was discharged but unfortunately suffered from long COVID which left him feeling unwell for months, suffering multiple blood clots in his lung and an enlarged heart.

Liam Brett and his friends Ryan and Adam Frame have raised a staggering £16,503 for Plymouth Hospitals Charity. The money will be donated to Brent Ward, an Oncology Ward at Derriford Hospital. 

Liam’s late fiancé, Tash, sadly lost her life to breast cancer five years ago and Liam says he wanted to do something to say thank you to the ward for the care they provided.